Post by marinermick on Aug 15, 2007 13:33:46 GMT 10
FFA Media Release
Wednesday 15 August 2007
QANTAS UNDER 23s FIELD STRONG SQUAD FOR OPENING MATCH IN THE FINAL STAGE OF 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING
Australia will field a strong 20-man squad for next week’s match against Iraq in Doha, Qatar, in the opening round of the third and final stage of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games.
German-based defender Matthew Spiranovic is set to make his first appearance for the Qantas Under 23s in the match. Joining him in the squad is the likes of Nuremberg team-mate Dario Vidosic and newly signed Fulham defender Adrian Leijer who last week joined the English Premier League club from Melbourne Victory.
A number of key Hyundai A-League players have also been selected including Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite (Adelaide United) all of whom have previously featured as Socceroo training squad members. Adelaide United’s Kristian Sarkies was a late withdrawal from the squad due to a thigh injury and has been replaced by Perth Glory midfielder David Micevski.
The Qantas Under 23s though will be without the services of regular skipper Mark Milligan and striker Mark Bridge who will both miss the match through suspension.
Iraq qualified for the semi finals of the Athens Olympics and their team is set to feature several members of the squad who won last month’s AFC Asian Cup.
Coach Graham Arnold will have the team in camp in Doha for the week prior to the match next Wednesday at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
“Iraq will be a massive test for us based on what I have seen of their previous matches,” said Arnold. They play a very similar style to the Iraq team that won the Asian Cup and have several players from that team so it will be quite a challenge.”
“It was a difficult squad to put together in regards availability of players and the suspension of Mark Bridge and Mark Milligan.”
Australia have been drawn against Iraq, DPR (North) Korea and Lebanon with only the group winner to qualify. Australia have already progressed past Chinese Taipei in the preliminary stage of qualifying and finished ahead of Iran and Jordan to qualify alongside Saudi Arabia for the third stage.
The 20-man squad for the match against Iraq on August 22 is:
Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Aaron Downes (Chesterfield, England), Ersan Gulum (Vestel Manisaspor, Turkey), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), Neil Kilkenny (Birmingham City, loan to Oldham Athletic, England), Adrian Leijer (Fulham, England), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), David Micevski (Perth Glory), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Steven O’Dor (Wellington Phoenix), Bradley Porter (Central Coast Mariners), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremberg, Germany), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg, Germany), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Nick Ward (QPR, England), David Williams (Brondby, Denmark), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC)
Wednesday 15 August 2007
QANTAS UNDER 23s FIELD STRONG SQUAD FOR OPENING MATCH IN THE FINAL STAGE OF 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES QUALIFYING
Australia will field a strong 20-man squad for next week’s match against Iraq in Doha, Qatar, in the opening round of the third and final stage of qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Games.
German-based defender Matthew Spiranovic is set to make his first appearance for the Qantas Under 23s in the match. Joining him in the squad is the likes of Nuremberg team-mate Dario Vidosic and newly signed Fulham defender Adrian Leijer who last week joined the English Premier League club from Melbourne Victory.
A number of key Hyundai A-League players have also been selected including Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite (Adelaide United) all of whom have previously featured as Socceroo training squad members. Adelaide United’s Kristian Sarkies was a late withdrawal from the squad due to a thigh injury and has been replaced by Perth Glory midfielder David Micevski.
The Qantas Under 23s though will be without the services of regular skipper Mark Milligan and striker Mark Bridge who will both miss the match through suspension.
Iraq qualified for the semi finals of the Athens Olympics and their team is set to feature several members of the squad who won last month’s AFC Asian Cup.
Coach Graham Arnold will have the team in camp in Doha for the week prior to the match next Wednesday at the Al Rayyan Stadium.
“Iraq will be a massive test for us based on what I have seen of their previous matches,” said Arnold. They play a very similar style to the Iraq team that won the Asian Cup and have several players from that team so it will be quite a challenge.”
“It was a difficult squad to put together in regards availability of players and the suspension of Mark Bridge and Mark Milligan.”
Australia have been drawn against Iraq, DPR (North) Korea and Lebanon with only the group winner to qualify. Australia have already progressed past Chinese Taipei in the preliminary stage of qualifying and finished ahead of Iran and Jordan to qualify alongside Saudi Arabia for the third stage.
The 20-man squad for the match against Iraq on August 22 is:
Nathan Burns (Adelaide United), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Aaron Downes (Chesterfield, England), Ersan Gulum (Vestel Manisaspor, Turkey), Troy Hearfield (Newcastle Jets), Neil Kilkenny (Birmingham City, loan to Oldham Athletic, England), Adrian Leijer (Fulham, England), Trent McClenahan (Hereford United, England), David Micevski (Perth Glory), Stuart Musialik (Newcastle Jets), Steven O’Dor (Wellington Phoenix), Bradley Porter (Central Coast Mariners), Matthew Spiranovic (Nuremberg, Germany), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg, Germany), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Nick Ward (QPR, England), David Williams (Brondby, Denmark), Ruben Zadkovich (Sydney FC)
